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Taiwan agency fines Apple for iPhone pricing

Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission has fined Apple Asia NT$20 million (US$666,220) for restricting the iPhone pricing of local carriers. Apple Asia demanded that three carriers send the company their iPhone pricing plans for review, according to FTC Vice Chairman Sun Lih-chyun. In doing so, Apple Asia violated a section of the Fair Trade Act that states trading partners should “be allowed to decide their resale prices freely” when offering goods for resale. Apple Asia also required local companies to adjust iPhone subsidies and price differences between iPhones, and required approval of the carriers’ promotion plans. If Apple doesn’t stop the practice immediately, another fine could total anywhere from NT$100,000 to NT$50 million. [via Taipei Times]